The Christmas break is always a highly anticipated time for players, coaches, managers and even broadcasters and journalists.
It’s a time to get away from the rink and spend time with family and friends.
But it’s quite possible the Christmas break of 2013 has come at the wrong time.
The Sudbury Wolves entered the break Sunday afternoon in dramatic fashion, with a 1-0 overtime thriller over the North Bay Battalion. The win was the Wolves' eighth in a row, ninth in their last 10 games, improving their record on the current eight-game home stand to a perfect 7-0.
The team is in first place in the Central Division and second in the Eastern Conference. Almost everyone I talk to says they can’t remember the last time the Wolves entered the holidays in such great shape.
So is the break coming at the wrong time? Wouldn’t it make sense to want to keep playing to try to keep the momentum going?
It may be be surprising to hear the answer to both questions is no.
While it is true a roll like the team is currently on doesn’t happen often, it is also true the players and coaches need a break.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Head Coach Paul Fixter told me the win streak is nice, but without some time to recharge the batteries, the players could crash and burn — which would ultimately do long-term damage.
Fixter says the win streak is a product of a lot of hard work — a few days off shouldn’t make much of a difference, as long as all that turkey doesn’t wipe the players' memories clean.
Unlike most teams, the Wolves' season actually started in August with a trip to Russia. They have been going non-stop for four months, so the break is coming at just the right time.
It’s unrealistic to think the streak will continue forever, but it is safe to say the culture of winning has made an impact on the players. Hopefully, they remember what it feels like to win and what it takes to be successful.
With Christmas less than a week away, I thought it would be fun to see what the Wolves want to find under the tree.
In talking with both General Manager Blaine Smith and Head Coach Paul Fixter, they want nothing more than good health for the players. It’s been a tough first half of the season for the Wolves. Fixter tells me, by his estimation, the team lost more than 100 man games to injuries.
The holidays, of course, mean championship hockey.
The marquee event is the World Junior Hockey Championship in Sweden. While no Sudbury Wolves made Team Canada, Domink Kahun will suit up for Team Germany for the second straight year.
All Wolves fans will be cheering for Kahun during the tournament, except on opening night when Team Canada faces Germany.
Also taking place over the holidays is the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, starting Dec. 29 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Two Sudbury Wolves will be taking part as members of Team Ontario.
Defenceman Kyle Capobianco and goalie Troy Timpano have been recognized as two of the best players under the age of 17 in the province.
Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92. This column appears every other week in Northern Life.
